"Ice Breaker" for 1st Practice w/All-Star team

Our league creates an All-Star team each year to give players the option of playing a few local tournaments after the rec season ends. (non-LL affiliated) Basically a "travel-lite" program, with tryouts for 8U/10U/12U (and higher if there's interest), but the team disbands by mid/end of July.

In our league, teams are divided by grade – so the 2nd grade teams only play other 2nd grade teams, 3rd grade plays other 3rd graders, etc. 8U is about 50/50 2nd & 3rd graders, so I’m assuming about ½ of the team is at least familiar with the girls they’ve been playing against.

Our first practice is this Sunday. Are there any good ice-breakers that you’ve used in a similar situation? I’m not looking to do trust falls with 7 & 8 YOs, but wondering what kind of “get-to-know-you” activities have been successful for a younger age group.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Have them throw and catch. That will build or break trust real quick


JK really but good luck and have fun!

Gags said:

I’m not looking to do trust falls with 7 & 8 YOs, but wondering what kind of “get-to-know-you” activities have been successful for a younger age group.

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"Duck-duck-goose". Seriously. I've done this with 10U teams.

Split the team into 2 groups and do any kind of relay race. Be creative and fun.

If it's warm, have someone bring popsicles for after practice and let them all talk with each other. Girls find a way to connect.

Drives the parents crazy to see such an incredible waste of time, but I loved having 'em all sit in a circle and do a little self intro. Name they want to be called, top ice cream choice, favorite softball position. Have an AC taking notes re: positions. Having the kids (and parents) meet each other really humanizes the league and makes everyone get along better over the next few years.

Also, in my opinion, your sole goal with Practice #1 should be to get them to say to their parents "That was fun. I liked Coach Gags better than my other Coach." This will make them more willing to show up for every practice and more willing to do the stuff you want at practice. It's 8U and if it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing. One great strategy advice I was given for this age, build in 5 minute "cartwheel and talking time" breaks for the girls. They can't do softball for 90 straight minutes.

Also, a heads up... Since I have a sneaking suspicion we live in the same place (I've seen your license plate Gags!), 8U All Star Coaches are often considered the top choice to coach the same set of kids when Travel Ball starts up in a year or two.

vcackerman said:

If it's warm, have someone bring popsicles for after practice and let them all talk with each other. Girls find a way to connect.

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Ice cream social is already planned for last 30 minutes of the first practice.

Gags said:

Ice cream social is already planned for last 30 minutes of the first practice.

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Great idea coach.

I loved our 8U All Star days - we really drilled em and challenged them along the way. Many of them are still doing really well.

Not sure if it will work with 8U but for 10U-16U I've used a game called Entourage. Works best with 8 or 16 players so use coaches/parents to fill the group out.
It's a Rock Paper Scissors tournament so the players all pair up for the first round (best of 3). All matches happen at once. When one player wins they get to grab a ball from the bucket and throw it to the field and the other player has to retrieve it. Winners advance to the second round, all defeated players then become the entourage for the player that beat them. Their job is to cheer as loud and proud as possible for their player. I let them know before we start that there is a prize for the best cheerleader as well as the winner of the tournament. Each round the remaining players have a bigger and more boisterous entourage. When only one player is left standing she will go against me in a best of 5 finale with the rest of the team behind her.
If the team doesn't know each other I also tell them they need to use their player's name in their cheers.
I get asked more often by the kids for this drill than any other and it's a great way to get players excited and engaged to start a practice.